Kingdom Principle:  Prophets see signs in sufferings, the rest only see the sufferings.

How do you feel when someone keeps a secret from you…?  Most of us take the noble path to that question and say it’s fine, if that person is not supposed to tell me… But what about when someone keeps a secret from you and that secret causes you great pain or sorrow. At that point – does it matter if they were supposed to tell you or not, imagine how you would respond if they were supposed to tell (preventing the harm) yet they still didn’t?

What is the role of a prophet today?

Do you consider yourself to be chosen by God? Are you a Servant of the God most High? Do you walk with the Lord such that He considers you His friend?  If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions – then I proclaim boldly to you that there is a message that God has placed inside of you. Prophets have a message from God, knowing how to share that message required great hope and faith. The Hope of the Advent Season – proclaims that Christ the King has come as a babe to save the world from sin, united with the hope that now lives in each of us as His prophets. God has placed his people through all the ages to proclaim his deeds. Unfortunately, people don’t care to listen to this message of Hope…– Why Not?

Hearing the words of the prophet, is being able to hear:

• You have diabetes/high cholesterol and you need to change your diet
• You have believed a lie about your past, and you need to let it go.
• You are turning to the internet to mask your pain, seek counseling or lose your family.
• You are working too much, you need to take a vacation and learn to release your anxiety

Listening and understanding the words of the prophet, is in direct relation to you having a disciplined body & developed soul, yet the words of the prophet often come because your body and soul are not disciplined and developed. Without an anchor of hope, the words will be regarded as foolish and not move you to action. The anchor is rooted in the promise and gift of the Holy Spirit.

But then, how can it be so, that the Spirit of God speaks to the prophet, to speak to the people who are not listening to God. Yet only those who will respond to the call of the prophet are those who themselves are being directed by the Spirit.  This is the plight of the prophet, and reason which the prophet must have hope beyond oneself.  Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah in Mark 4:12 declaring “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

The call of the Prophet is to bring the Just and Righteous ways of God to a people who are not walking in His Justice or Righteousness – for the foundation of the Kingdom is Justice and Righteousness. (Psalm 89:14) Each of the prophet voices of this advent in this are speaking to a unique situation:

• Micah (wk 4) proclaims the destruction to come at the hand of the Assyrians (around 730 BC);
• Zephaniah (wk 3) proclaims the coming judgment to Israel before they go into Exile at the hands of the Babylonians.  (around 640 BC);
• Malachi (wk 2)is the last book of the Old Testament, proclaims that even after the Jews have been returned to Israel, they have returned to empty rituals. (around 420 BC).
• Jeremiah in this week is a glimmer of hope amongst the conquering arm of the Babylonians,  and Israel continually fails to hear, listen or respond the warnings, even as they go into Exile, they choose not to submit to the ways of Yahweh. (around 600 BC)       Quite similar to the warnings given above – many know the changes that are necessary in their lives, but disregard the prophets’ warnings.

Is the time of the Prophets come and gone? – I THINK NOT! Amos who was one of Israel’s earliest prophets emerged from very unlikely sources and proclaims “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) Jesus renews this message in the Gospel of John, stating   “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” (John 14:29) Jesus plays the role of the prophet to his people, then deepens the relationship to a new understanding, calling his disciples to be “prophets” servants who know their mater’s business. “ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)

You and I have become the message of Hope to a lost and broken world. This message is being sent to those who are far off, this is the very reason we must be sent…. That they might turn form their wicked ways and move in the direction of the King. While it is true that only God can move the heart of his people, and a movement of the spirit is required for any to come into relationship with God, this is not the concern of the prophet. It is the message to which the prophet is obedient and to deliver such message that reveals the heart of submission to the King.

The signs have been given, and continue to be given by God’s servants so that the hearts of those who are weak might be strengthened. In much the same way that the Kingdom is “already” and remains “not yet”, so this is true in each of our lives regardless of where we find ourselves in our journey with God. King David can look back and see where he has learned and changed his ways– yet he remains indebted to the LORD to teach him and to guide him in truth. God does not avoid the sinner or condemn the lost, rather he sends his servants with a message of Hope.

Today – are you a servant with a message of Hope or are you in need of a message of Hope.

If you are such a servant – then walk boldly before the Throne of God most high that you might receive the very message that He is asking you to proclaim and to whom it is to be directed. (Be Aware –God is not above testing the discipline of your body and the development of your soul – to give you a message with the orders not to deliver it, or to grow your patience to give you no message at all)

If you are looking for such a message of Hope at this time – then recognize that a disciplined body and developed soul will prepare you to receive such a message that comes from the Spirit of God. Wait no longer for such a message, submit yourselves to God and he will come near to you.  Ask, Seek , Knock and you will find what you are looking for…..